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Earth Day Fun Facts

partysugar — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 00:01:11 -0700

I know some of you secretly love reading my fun facts as much as I do writing them (and acting like a know it all at parties telling people them), so I thought I'd give you a double dosing this week. I believe more and more importance should be placed on Earth Day every year so it's totally worthy of its own set of fabulous fun facts. Did you know that in some elementary schools, after Halloween and Christmas, Earth Day is the third largest celebrated holiday? Or how about that it is now observed in 175 countries and is the largest secular modern day holiday in the world? For more fun facts and to learn how much energy you save when you recycle one aluminum can, read more

Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to watch a TV for three hours - it's equivalent to half a gallon of gasoline.
Earth Day is a relatively new holiday and was first celebrated on April 22 in 1970. More than 20 million Americans participated in this first Earth Day celebration
Earth Day was founded by a senator of Wisconsin and the day is credited for creating the environmentalism movement.
April 22 is the first official day of Spring in the Northern hemisphere and of Fall in the Southern hemisphere and was chosen to be Earth Day for this reason.

Never underestimate the importance of recycling: if every newspaper was recycled, we could save about 250,000,000 trees each year. Unfortunately only 27% of all American newspapers are recycled.
More than 20,000,000 Hershey's Kisses are wrapped each day, using 133 square miles of tinfoil. All that foil is recyclable, but not many people realize it.
Only 11% of the earth's surface is used to grow food.
The world's first national park was started in 1872 at Yellowstone National Park in the US.

The first major international conference on environmental issues was held in Sweden in 1972 and was sponsored by the United Nations.
The first wildlife refuge was formed on Pelican Island Florida in 1903.
The patron Saint of ecologists is St. Francis and the first proclamation of Earth Day was made by the mayor of San Francisco in 1970.
A highlight of the annual Earth Day ceremony at the United Nations is the ringing of the Peace Bell that was given to the UN by Japan. It is made from coins given by school children to further peace on our planet.

Happy Earth Day!

Celebrate the Day With an Earth Day Quiz

YumSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:01:33 -0700

Happy Earth Day! Whether you plant a garden, or whip up an eco-friendly meal, I hope you have a good one. To celebrate the day, I thought I'd see how much you know about Earth Day. Ready for our fun facts quiz? You can use these little tidbits to impress folks at your next party! Ready? Get started!
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2012: Apocalyptic Good Times

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:30:00 -0800

In terms of end-of-the-world movies, 2012 packs it all - a love story, teary family moments, action-packed adventure, over-the-top-CGI, and a ton of recycled film cliches - in a two and a half hour package. That's lengthy by today's standards, but I wasn't bored for a minute. This is pure escapist entertainment.

The film opens in 2009 as a scientist in India and his American associate Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) discover that the Earth's core is overheating. His forecast: Tectonic plates will shift, thereby causing a worldwide catastrophe that will wipe out the human race.

Dun, dun, dun! (Doesn't take long to pull you in, does it?) To hear my full assessment, read more.

The real action goes down three years later in 2012 when, according to the Mayan calendar, the Earth will reach its end. The entire So-Cal coast starts crumbling, so our hero Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) and his family begin a journey to China where the governments around the world have supposedly assembled spaceships to carry select humans to safety.

What? You expected this to be plausible?

Of course not, but the film does include tons of cool CGI - volcanos, snow storms, giant tsunamis. It's like every disaster movie you've ever watched combined. (That should come as no surprise seeing as how the director is Roland Emmerich who created The Day After Tomorrow, Independence Day, and Godzilla.)

As for the characters, we've seen them all stereotyped in other films before, but they're still enjoyable here. (Even though I admittedly winced over a Russian family complete with a fur coat, tiny dog, and an employee named Sasha.) This is thanks to the actors who play their parts with believability, even when the scenes feel ridiculous. Ejiofor portrays a great bleeding heart swept up in a governmental plan that's looking out for No. 1, and Cusack pulls off his father role without being over-the-top or sappy. Also, watch for Woody Harrelson as a nutty conspiracy theorist living in Yellowstone National Park.

2012 is purely meant to be fun, and it succeeds. There's a constant barrage of cliff-hanger moments that never let up, and though you pretty much know where things are headed, it's easy to get sucked in.

(Don't forget that if you see a movie that you'd like to review, you can post your write-up in the Movie Review Group in Community - I may even post it here on the site!)

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

With Nicky and Doug, Paris Never Has to Shop or Eat Alone

PopSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:30:26 -0700

Paris Hilton worked up her appetite yesterday afternoon by shopping at a friend's charity resale shop with her sister Nicky in LA. Doug Reinhardt joined the fun later, and he and Paris were soon off to dinner at the Gulfstream restaurant. It was a day off from business for Paris, who recently sat down with the British radio host Fearne Cotton for an interview about her business empire. Paris confessed yet again to being in on the joke about her ditzy ways, saying, "I would do the baby voice and it's kind of like this character I made up, but in real life I'm completely different, I'm very down-to-earth, I'm smart, I know what's going on."

For more photos of Paris just read more.

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School Year's Resolutions: Eco-Friendly Lunch Boxes

LilSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Brown paper bags are so passe. Make sure your child isn't outcasted at the earth-friendly lunch table by buying them an eco-friendly lunch box that helps reduce waste. Unlike the green lunch carriers of years past, today's bags are cute, kid-friendly, and serve many purposes. Check out a few of our favorites:

Kids Konserve lunch kit comes with a stainless-steel bottle, two stainless-steel containers with leak-proof plastic lids, a reusable baggie, a cloth napkin, and both a recycled aluminum name tag and recycled cotton lunch sack all made from nonleaching, BPA-free, lead-free and phthalate-free materials.
Munchlers Backpacks come in three cute polypropylene designs that unzip right into a place mat. The insulated bags easily fit lunch and a beverage.
The Lunchsense Lunchbox Set is BPA, PVC, and phthalate free, and comes with four food containers, a drink bottle, and a reusable ice pack. It opens up flat so it can be used as a place mat as well.
The lead, PVC, BPA and phthalate free Gator Tots Lunch Bag is large enough for a large lunch and keeps foods cool throughout the day. Its retro fabrics make it fun to look at too.
Cartoon and movie-loving tots will love Zak Design's phthalate-free lunch totes that feature every character from Spiderman to High School Musical.
Crocodile Creek's fun designs are a great alternative to character-driven ones. The eco-friendly bags even have an outside pocket for notes, utensils, or extra lunch money.
The Land's End Critter Lunch Box is a classic that has been lead and PVC-free for years.
Fleurville's Lunch Pak functions like a backpack that is insulated and ready to hold a midday meal. The lean and PVC-free bag also has storage compartments for holding projects from school.

Enter to win a $1,000 wardrobe for your child from Tea Collection!

5 Reasons to Bike

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Biking is my favorite form of locomotion. The world moves by at the perfect pace when pedaling. You can take in the view and still feel the wind in your face. Riding a bike is a great green way to get around since you can travel a greater distance in a shorter time when compared to walking, and it can be faster than driving. depending on gridlock traffic.

Here are five reasons to bike to work, bike about town, and bike for errands:

Eco: Since it is Earth Day, let's start with the greenest reason - biking reduces your carbon footprint. Using pedal power, rather than fossil fuels, for short trips and commutes can reduce your carbon emissions by an estimated 11 percent.
Cardio: Cycling is a wonderful, joint-friendly form of exercise. Instead of burning oil, you burn calories on your bike.
Strength: Biking about town builds leg strength. Pedaling tones your quads and hamstrings as well as your calves. Mini skirts and leggings are fashion trends with staying power, and shorts of all lengths will be very popular this Spring and Summer. Tone your gams while maximizing your pedal power.

See two other reasons to hop on your bike when you read more.

Money: Commute Solutions, out of Austin, TX, has estimated that biking rather than driving can save you serious dough. Pedaling a 10-mile round-trip commute can save you up to $10 a trip when you factor in all your driving expenses.
Fun: Biking is just plain fun. Whether you're speeding down an asphalt hill, navigating your mountain bike over tree roots, or cruising the flats - cycling is a good time.

Why do you bike?

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Leo, Cameron and Jon Stay Eco-Friendly and Smiling

PopSugar — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 04:00:24 -0700

Environmentally-conscious celebrities headed to the National Resources Defense Council's 20th Anniversary party in Beverly Hills on Saturday night. It was no surprise to see two of our favorite eco-loving celebrities Cameron Diaz and Leonardo DiCaprio walking the red carpet. Cameron's also had some fun movie news to celebrate - she's in talks to star in a legal comedy called Bobbie Sue. Jon Hamm was also there showing off some scruff while still looking dapper in his suit. Earth Day was on the 22nd and a party celebrating our natural resources was the perfect way to end a particularly environmental week.

To see more photos including Amy Smart, Linda Evangelista, Lisa Kudrow and more just read more.

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Images include: Amber Valletta, Amy Smart, Brian Grazer, Cameron Diaz, Chelsea Handler, Heather Graham, Jon Hamm, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Leah Remini, Leonardo DiCaprio, Linda Evangelista, Lisa Kudrow, Natasha Bedingfield, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Rosanna Arquette, Tom Ford

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Fab Celebrates Spring With Saks: Win This Organic Beau Soleil Dress!

FabSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:17:41 -0700

Happy Earth Day everyone! In honor of this green day, in today's daily Saks giveaway, we present to you this Beau Soleil Organic One-Shoulder Dress ($275). Made of 100 percent bamboo, its slender shape and one-shoulder design will never go out of style - and your fashion conscience will be wiped clean.

To enter to win, log in to take our quiz. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just on taking the quiz once you are logged in. You need to be a TeamSugar member to take the quiz; if you're not already a member, register here for an account and join in all the fun on the Sugar sites! Just click on "take the quiz" below and we will do a random drawing to determine the winner. US residents eligible only (sorry!). Click here for the official rules.

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Pop Quiz: From the Boston Marathon to Biking

FitSugar — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:30:15 -0700

This week started with a bang, and by "bang" I mean the start gun of the Boston Marathon. And then here at FitSugar, we just kept on going, writing about fitness fun and green tips for Earth Day. Did you catch all the info we covered? Take this short quiz and see.

If you feel like you need a little review, all the answers can be found in this week's posts. Good luck!

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A Few of Lil's Favorite Things: April

LilSugar — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:12:45 -0700

April brings Earth Day, so let's celebrate by getting our tots to go green with these fun finds that will keep them ecologically conscious! This month's mindful must haves cover everything from a baby carrier to booties for your lil bare feet.

Weebit Booties. These easygoing hemp Simple Infant Weebit Booties are a paragon present for an earth mama's infant. They're leather-free and topped off with a felt pig.
Wishbone Bike. Made from sustainably managed woods, the bike's wheels are manufactured from 60 percent post-consumer recycled plastic so your wee one can learn to balance and roll on this green ride!

To see the rest of the details on these goodies, read more.

Magic Nuudles. Encourage your kiddo's building obsession with this bag of biodegradable Styrofoam-looking pieces that can be stuck together to build towers or create art projects. Made from cornstarch, the pieces simply need to be wet with a damp washcloth and then pressed together.
Peekaru. Eighty-five percent of the Peekaru vest is made from recycled high-quality Polartec fleece and is Oeko-tex Standard 100, making it eco-friendly for mama and baby. Available in five practical hues, the cozy vest zips up over most baby carriers, has pockets for stowing small accessories, and has a peep hole for the wee one's noggin.
Bambu Baby Utencils. A safe alternative to plastics, bamboo is a natural, strong resource that will leave you feeling like you did your part to ensure that your lil one has all of the best products at his fingertips. Bambu Kids baby utensils are made from solid pieces of certified organically grown bamboo, finished with a food-safe oil, and come in a variety of forms, including a two-piece set that fits naturally in your tot's chubby hands.

Ella Moss Asymmetrical One-Shoulder Dress - $155.00	Rag & Bone One-Shoulder Sheath - $496.00
Design History One-Shoulder Top - $100.00	VPL One-Shoulder Construction Tee - $225.00
Michael Kors Draped One-Shoulder Dress - $1,395.00	Amsale Ruffle Shoulder Silk Dress - $360.00
Brian Reyes One-Shoulder Pleated Silk Dress - $1,345.00	ABS One-Shoulder Rosette Gown - $470.00
Ralph Lauren Collection Leanne Silk Top - $798.00	Robert Rodriguez Ruffled One-Shoulder Top - $275.00
Just Cavalli Silk & Satin Scarf Dress - $425.00